Brentford's trip to Aston Villa will be a special night for the Bees head coach Dean Smith as he manages for the first time against his boyhood club.

The 45-year-old had been going to Villa Park since the 1970s and enjoyed the glory days of the Villans when they won the league, European Cup and Super Cup.

Smith used to earn his ticket by cleaning the seats with his father, who was a steward at the ground.

“I remember my first game was an evening game,” the Brentford head coach said. “It was the early, no mid 70s I'd say.”

He added: “We used to clean the seats and then my Dad would walk us round to the Holte End. I've got great memories of that but also in professional football myself.

“These things have to be tempered in professional football. You have to focus on your career. You look for their results but the selfish side means you have to be professional about it.”

Sadly, Smith's father won't be able to make the game but the Bees head coach knows the contest will, briefly, divide loyalties in his family.

“I'm not sure which way my brother will go at the moment – he follows Villa everywhere. It's a shame my Dad won't be there as he has dementia and is in a home now.

“The family will look forward to going back to Birmingham. The reason I came to Brentford was to have these games week in week out, to test myself and try and get to the Premier League. We know it's going to be tough but I have a great belief we can do it.”

There are no prizes for guessing that Smith's favourite memory as an Aston Villa fan was the European Cup triumph as well as the league title where they only used 14 players.

“The European Cup win is the favourite memory of every Villa supporter. I really enjoyed the cup final against Manchester United the year they were chasing the treble and Villa beat them 3-1 in the League Cup.

The Aston Villa Team who won the 1982 European Cup Final.

“I think it was Dean Saunders, Dalion Atkinson – that team. Big Ron was in charge then. The team that won the league in 81 – to only use 14 players – will never get done again.

He added: “I was quite fortunate when I was going that they won the League Cup in 77 then the league in 81, the European Cup the year after and the Super Cup the year after that.

“I was spoilt a little bit but my favourite player was Gordon Cowans. I believe he's just left them but I've got to know him as well. He's a top player.”

Smith has no end of available 'scouts' to have Villa watched with his friends and family but that didn't stop him from seeing them with his own eyes against Nottingham Forest on Sunday.

“I certainly have (a lot of scouts at Villa),” he joked. “I went there myself for the Forest game and people said they were looking forward to Wednesday I was saying you won't be after 90 minutes. To go there and beat Aston Villa, I'll be the proudest man in the ground.”